Leaving fear for Christmas
/
I failed to get a whole family photo again but I did manage to get one with this pretty gal. She called me up before Christmas and suggested a Christmas Day pajama party and that’s what we did.
If you would say a prayer for her, I’d be grateful. Her punishment for spending Christmas with family is that she will be forced to wear a mask in her own home at all times except for eating and sleeping.
For 14 days.
A woman who has to rely on others for every need, must have her face covered in her own home. Even though she is exempt by law. Even though she is not ill. Even though every able-bodied caregiver has no such intrusion on bodily autonomy.
Her life is an ongoing act of humility and discomfort. And they would require even more as a condition of being hugged and loved by family.
This keeps me up at night. And I struggle with helplessness and anger. I don’t know when she will be able to visit again. I also don’t know when she will be permitted to attend Holy Mass again. They say if she gets the shot... maybe she will be free.
That’s called coercion.
I objected to the lockdown from the word go in March because I could not see the good in separating the vulnerable from their essential community. “The vulnerable” have a face. Hers.
Almost a full year later, little has changed for them.
There are still people who can’t get essential medical care or therapy, can’t work, can’t see family, can’t worship, and are struggling under the weight of unrelenting grief and coercion.
Listen... now that Christ has come and we have indulged and celebrated, some of our loved ones are still being crushed.
We cannot allow the distractions of the season to allow us to forget. Christmas is not about distraction but about immersion and commission.
He has called.
Compelling us to seek Him.
He has come.
Now He is equipping us to leave fear, selfishness, and weakness...
And to live the Gospel.
It is not our purpose to nurture a faith that remains a “personal journey.” We are made for mission. Go see your people. Smash the idol of fear.
That is Christmas.